10 - 5/17 : The Night of Terror

Morrigan stood in the entryway, the crumpled body of the priest cast aside beside her. Defying the hallow spell that was placed upon the holy church, she strode forward confident of her power. She began, and bid the group to her castle, to hear her out and not leap head first to a pointless death. But there would be no negotiations, the group party drew arms and prepared for the coming fight!
Judge leapt forward, but the Vampire moved with frightening speed and moved straight to Qiao. She struck ferocious blows on the group, sending Qiao down, and inflicted tremendous damage on the party. She looked at Ireena, and asked why not join her and experience this power? Why die a pointless death, when she could join her forever?
Ireena summoned her strength and resolve, denied Morrigans request and launched her fiery spells to defend herself. To her surprise, her fury manifested as a small elemental spirit, but the Vampire was more than enough to handle the group. Morrigan began to lose her patience, and one by one struck the party down. She grabbed Qiao in a ferocious assault and using her necrotic energy mutilated her arm! To the elbow it shriveled up, until only a stub of bloody bone remained. Morrigan turned and gave Ireena an ultimatum, consider what power she had and to join her, or perish, before departing out the window.
Ireena cried out at the sight of her friends heaped across the floor, and placed her hands upon Qiao. To her surprise, healing energy began to flow out of her. Ireena used her newfound healing powers to help bring the group back up.
The group stood bloodied and beaten at the hands of Morrigan. The deafening silence of the church did nothing to stop the roaring sounds in the distance. Flames could be seen raging against the sky, crowds could be heard shouting all across town. The group decided it was no time to lament their situation, gathered what they could, patched their wounds and quickly headed to the source of the commotion. The silent walk only broken by the crumbling of burning buildings and shouts that rang throughout Vallaki.
Upon arrival the group found Lady Wachter and her Cult of light leading a large mob against the Burgomaster. The guards were barely holding on to the gate, and blood was demanded! She decried the vile leader of the town, claiming that she had a vision where the sun would arrive, but under his tyranny the town would never see it!
Judge and Wixley did their best to turn the crowd against her. They decried her apathy to the devil, the futile fight against their fellow man, but the crowd was not swayed. They demanded blood, they hated the tyranny they had lived under, and some even believed Lady Wachters words that they would one day see the light!
The group had enough, this cult must be stopped, and battle commenced! Wixley webbed the entire cult in the middle of the mob, but Lady Wachter and the cultists still put up a fight. Ireena used her wings to take to the air, Fabian launched numerous spells even though he risked his wild magic surging. Qiao, battered and beaten struggled to fight on through the pain, but still fought hard against the cultists. Despite the day of terrible fighting, the tide began to turn and in a devastating strike Judge struck Lady Wachter down. She stood up, convinced the light would finally come this day, but Judge gave her justice and tossed her body on the fire. With their leader dead the few remaining cultists, and the remaining mob fled in terror.
The Burgomaster came out to congratulate the party on coming to his defense, with Izek and his hounds at his side. But the party was not ready to deliver the town back into his vile hands, and Judge demanded his head!
Once again, battered bruised and depleted of resources, the party fought on. Izek was a terrible foe, but Judges armor held strong. Wixley used her magic to misty step into the house, and after discovering the Noble in the hallway shot him dead! Outside the group struck Izek down, and knocked his loyal hounds unconscious.
Before the dust could settle, Wixley noticed down the burning streets that Viktor had arrived and was scanning the scene. Unwilling to negotiate with the despicable nobles son, she immediately shot an arrow at him and the group launched an attack! Unfortunately he used his powerful magic to turn invisible and managed to flee.
The baron was dead. Lady Wachter and her cult had been slain. Numerous guard and citizens lay dead or dying in the streets. Shouting could still be heard far in the distance, dense smoke battered away at the moonlight that illuminated fires across the town. As Vallaki burned, the group stopped and noticed a terrifying sight in the distance. Standing upon the top of a tall chimney, with Ravenlofts tall towers looming in the background, the moonlight shining down upon her, stood the the ominous silhouette of Morrigan.

Portraits

Wixley - The small halfling fights with bow and is an expert in dealing with undeath. She has abhors cities and civilization and is much more comfortable in the wilds.

Fabian - A powerful sorcerer overflowing with magic, the aasimar sorcerer brings a potent suite of spells to the table to take down all foes.

Judge - The stoic worshipper of Muir, his combat expertise and righteousness leads the group to glory against all evil assailants who would dare challenge the group.

Qiao Tai - An astral monk from the distant realms of the Xha'en Hegemony, she has traveled far and found herself in the lands of Barovia. After resting at the Church of Solanus, she heard the commotion in the graveyard and quickly rushed to the groups defense to fight off Morrigan's undead. She now joins their group in the crusade against the vampire. IN a recent fight against Morrigan, her right arm was obliterated by Morrigans necrotic magic.

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Ismark Kolyana - Ismark was met in the Village of Barovia. Morrigan had become infatuated with his sister to some unknown sinister end, and the two feared for her life. They have joined the party in the journey to Vallaki where they seek safety. He has done his best to put on a brave face, and with Judges help has been training to be better at combat. He now knows that nowhere is safe from the evil of Morrigan.

Ireena Kolyana - The adopted sister of Ismark, she has been bitten twice by Morrigan and fears for her life. Morrigan has offered Ireena join her numerous times, but she continues to refuse. She has discovered an afinity for fire and learned to control it, gaining fire spells. Later in her desperation to help her friends, she discovered she now had the ability to heal.

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Morrigan - The devil herself and curse upon the lands of Barovia. She has confronted the party once at the Village of Barovia and her minions have been a constant thorn in the parties side. Most recently she has appeared at Saint Andrals Church, before slaughtering the impudent priest and confronting the party. She did not kill any of the group, but defeated the party before departing and leaving them to the aftermath in Valaki.

Fiona Wachter - A noble woman in Vallaki who led the Heralds of Light, a group that believes that the sun will (some day soon) shine upon the region. She was steadfast in her faith, not one connected to any deity but a strong conviction that has brought many to her side. During the Night of Terror, she united the town and marched on the Burgomasters mansion, believing this bloodshed would finally bring the light down upon Barovia. The party confronted her and her cult, and struck her down.

Baron Vargas Vallakovich - The Baron of Vallaki. While he was accommodating and welcomed news of the town of Barovia, this only solidified that he was doing the right thing to protect his town. The group disliked the idea of his festivals, and also distrusted his associate Izek. He tried to hail the party as heroes for stopping the vampire threat, and wished to have them appear in the parade, but the party wanted nothing to do with him. During the Night of Terror, he barely held off as the party took out Lady Wachters forces, and then was slain himself by Wixleys Arrow.

Izek Strazni - A mysterious, brutish man with one larger deformed arm. He appeared to be the Barons enforcer, and though he was somewhat dim he did appear to follow orders adequately. He defended the Burgomaster to the end, before being slain in a last stand.

Viktor Vallakovich - The somewhat cold noble son of the Baron, the group found that he was searching for something. Fabian approached him, but with no plan he was annoyed by the unwanted conversation and brushed Fabian off. Later Wixley tailed him out of town where he walked around a shallow area near the lake, where he seemingly was in search of spell components. After finding evidence in a lost journal that he had done terrible things to Lady Wachters daughters mind, the party abhorred the vile son of the Burgomaster and swore vengeance. When he arrived at the mansion during the Night of Terror, the party did not even begin to negotiate and launched an attack. He fled and managed to evade capture.